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Best Of Trail Running Shoes • December 19, 2024

Most Exciting Trail Running Shoes of 2025: Our Picks & Previews

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - feature

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What You Need To Know

Our Picks

What we’re most excited about for trail running in 2025

How We Picked

Some models we’ve tried, every other we’ve seen in person and are judging off past experiences with prior models

Use Range

Everything from technical racers to long haul cruisers (in alphabetical order, by brand)

Dirt Division

We’re back from The Running Event and, as always, it was a wild ride! If you’re not familiar, it’s the industry event of the year, where all the brands show off their latest and greatest gear for the upcoming year. Our experience while covering it is kind of like an all-day rodeo as we hop on one bronco, get bucked off, and saddle a new one. The only true break we got was to fuel up on some of the best Mexican street food I’ve ever had. Honestly, we probably looked like we were hoofing through an aid station at the 100k mark of an ultra – scarf some food, pack up the gear, and get back on the trail. 

Most years, we can pick a theme that encompasses the vibes of all the updates and upgrades to upcoming models. A few years ago it was higher stack, then it was carbon plates, after that it was using new foams, and this year it’s… maybe a bit of everything? 

As I was thinking about it on the plane ride home (slightly groggy from the evening before), it occurred to me that the theme itself was simply embedded into the paperwork a little more this year. If you took spec sheets (i.e. all of the basic tech information of a shoe) and hid the model name and company on the sheet, it would prove to be quite difficult to tell which shoe was which. 

On paper, a lot of the shoes we saw were nearly identical in terms of materials used. Many have an engineered upper of some sort, a modern midsole, and outsoles were virtually the same (see: Vibram). However, when you have your eyes, hands, and feet on the shoes there are plenty of differences. Each brand has their own means of how they bring these ingredients together. 

We’ll try to break all of that down for you in the following preview. This list seems comprehensive, but it’s not! Our niche sport is continuing to grow and brands are investing more than ever. There are also a handful of shoes that we’re not allowed to talk about at the moment, but we’ll update as permitted. Here are the trail-trotters that stood out to us among the ever-expanding marketplace, in alphabetical order.

The Most Exciting Trail Running Shoes of 2025

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - ALTRA OLYMPUS 275

Altra Olympus 275

July 2025, $185

Watch The Preview
Use

Daily/ultra race day

Weight

 10.8 oz (306 g) for a 10.5

Stack/Drop

33 mm in heel, 33 mm in forefoot (0 mm drop)

Paying homage to its namesake mountain and the toaster oven temperature that the first pair of Altra were baked in, Altra’s updated Olympus 275 gets the technical treatment. Altra loyalists will love that this widely popular high-stack shoe won’t be changed underfoot at all. All technical features will come up top with a brand new Matryx upper and booty-like ankle collar. It all comes together in a much lighter package and a better fit that will only widen the use case for the Altra Olympus 275.

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - BROOKS CASCADIA 19

Brooks Cascadia 19

FW 2025, $150

Watch The Preview
Use

Long hauler over any terrain

Weight

N/A

Stack/Drop

22 mm in the heel, 16 mm in the forefoot (6 mm drop), midsole only

If we took the cross country scoring system and applied it to our 2024 BIG awards, Brooks would come out on top. That notion might seem absurd in the modern landscape of the trail running market. Results don’t lie, though. 

We were impressed by all of their updates this year as they can go toe-to-toe with any other shoes in their category. And all our favorites are getting exciting updates in the coming year.

One of the most exciting is the Cascadia. One of the original trail shoes is in its 19th edition and gets a boost in every way possible. 

The aim is to provide the same stable, protective and grippy experience for runners but with a much overhauled package. We’re talking the intro of DNA Loft v3 nitrogen-infused midsole molded around the Trail Adapt system– a plate that acts as both a rock plate and stability mechanism. We will see a lower heel/toe offset but gain stack overall. 

I’ve never been so intrigued to run in the Cascadia as I am right now. Will this workhorse regain prize stallion stature again?

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - BROOKS CATAMOUNT 4

Brooks Catamount 4

Spring 2025, $170

Watch The Preview
Use

Race day

Weight

9.5 oz. (269 g) for a US M9, 8.5 oz. (241 g) for a US W8

Stack/Drop

34 mm in the heel, 28 mm in the forefoot (6 mm drop)

One of our overall favorites of 2024, the Catamount came back to the garage for a huge mod. Like the Cascadia 19, the Brooks Catamount 4 will get more stack, new foam, and an altered plate to create a speedier, more comfortable racing shoe. 

There’s clear inspiration from the Hyperion line on the road running side. At the same time, it’s obvious that the Catamount 4 is not just a carryover. This is a shoe made to run fast and confident on trails

A revised Skyvault Plate aims for a more propulsive feel on the flats and uphills while maintaining the dynamic sense of control the shoe was previously known for. A high energy DNA Flash V2 foam will assist in that venture.

Some ingredients remain the same, like the Trailtack Green outsole. With 3.5 mm lugs, it works for a variety of surfaces and conditions. A light yet tenacious engineered upper rounds out the shoe.

We still think this formula will serve runners well on race day and peppy training runs. 

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - HOKA MAFATE X PREVIEW

Hoka Mafate X

Spring 2025, $250

Watch The Preview
Use

Long distance, ultra racing

Weight

N/A

Stack/Drop

49 mm in heel, 44 mm in forefoot (5 mm drop)

It’s time to get chonky. Inspired by the popular Skyward X, Hoka is literally taking things to new heights for the trails with the all-new Mafate X.

Comfort abounds with a midsole composed of a PEBA foam top layer and a supercritical EVA bottom layer,  sandwiched around a H-shaped carbon plate. The plate itself is only connected at the midfoot and forks toward either end of the shoe. A plush upper and silly-but-practical Vibram Megagrip outsole (its lugs are pizza slices and tacos) round out the massive amount of details that were managed in the Hoka Mafate X. We fully expect this one to be a luscious ride that many reach for while on the LSD endeavors… if you can afford the $250 price tag.

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - LA SPORTIVA PRODIGIO PRO

La Sportiva Prodigio Pro

Spring 2025, $195

Use

Race day

Weights

8.9 oz (252 g) for a US M9

Stack/Drop

34 mm in the heel, 28 mm in the forefoot (6 mm drop)

The Prodigio Pro is based on one of our favorites from 2023, the La Sportiva Prodigio. The same last is used but materials take a performance route with the goal of being lighter and more responsive.  A core and carrier model was utilized for the midsole with a nitro-infused TPU top layer/core and a more durable nitro-infused EVA (same as used in the Prodigio) makes up the outer midsole. 

As with many higher-stacked trail runners, the Prodigio Pro opts for a wider-than average base (for stability) than we typically find in a La Sportiva package. Frixion XF 2.0 is a mix of their best rubber compounds for confidence on all terrain and conditions. An innovative Power Wire upper allows it to capitalize on a very secure fit while maintaining a light package. 

I think we can be confident that this “new chapter” in La Sportiva’s anthology is going to be a thrilling one.

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - MERRELL MTL ADAPT

Merrell MTL Adapt

Spring 2025, $170

Watch The Preview
Use

Training and long distance racing

Weight

N/A

Stack/Drop

41 mm in heel, 35 mm (6 mm)

I’m not going to lie, I saw this one in the closet at last year’s Running Event and had to keep my lips zipped for a whole dang year. This is something fresh and new from a brand that we in the BITR Dirt Division have come to love.

The Merrell MTL Adapt falls in the same line of high-performance footwear as the MTL Skyfire 2 and MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx. It actually contains a lot of the same technologies and materials to maintain a connection to the trail, just from a much higher vantage point. 

What’s most exciting about this shoe is not only that Merrell has reimagnied the idea of a high stack trail shoe. With a 41/35mm stack of dual density Floatpro midsole, “connection” with the trail looks a little different. Merrell utilizes Flexconnect technology, a segmented midsole with deep dual-directional flex grooves to allow the shoe to adapt to terrain.  A gusseted tongue and Matryx upper ensure a strong foothold to counteract some of the height. Of course, 4 mm lugs of Vibram Megagrip also help with the all-around trail experience.

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - MOUNT TO COAST P1

Mount to Coast T1

June 1, $180

Watch The Preview
Use

Everyday trails

Weight

9.2 (240 g) for a US M9

Stack/Drop

36 in the heel, 32 in the forefoot (4 mm drop)

Mount to Coast has grown incredibly over the last year because of their high-quality road models, first marketed as “road ultrarunning” shoes. This, however, is their first foray into trail, one of two models coming in 2025.

The Mount to Coast T1 enters as a do-it-all trail shoe. This is a direct descendant of their popular R1 road model. It is built on the same last and has a similar dual-zone lacing  system that allows for a very specific fit depending on personal preferences, terrain, duration, etc. 

It has a moderate stack of moderately dense foam, with a moderately aggressive rocker, a moderately weighted durable kevlar/knit upper, and moderately deep lugs of Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole. You get the point, I hope. I don’t mean any disrespect by this, but there’s strength in simplicity. Oftentimes, that’s what creates some of the best performing trail shoes. 

Knowing the build quality and performance of Mount to Coast from their road offerings, the T1 is bound to be a solid option for those looking to get down and dirty.

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - NNORMAL KJERAG 2

Nnormal Kjerag 2.0

July 2025, $195

Watch The Preview
Use

Technical terrain

Weight

N/A

Stack/Drop

26 mm in heel, 20 mm in forefoot (6 mm drop), midsole only

Nnormal has quickly risen through the ranks over the last few years due to its ethos and performance on the trails. I mean, when Kilian Jornet is leading the way with his unparalleled mountain running experience and background of technical gear development, one would hope this is the result. Their first shoe, the Kjerag 1.0, is their most popular shoe to date; it offered a light and fast “pure” trail running experience. I think of it as simplicity done extremely well.

 We’ve loved the technical nature of the brand and its products, so it’s a big deal to see Nnormal come out with an update for a shoe that has a timeless feel already. There are subtle changes throughout the package, like a thinner Matryx jacquard upper and a stretchy fully-gusseted tongue, but the major change will come underfoot with an updated Exxpure plus foam and two more millimeters of stack. Some will cheer for this adjustment and some will fill their attic with first versions of this shoe. 

I lean towards the first sentiment, but wait in anticipation for the midyear release of the Nnormal Kjerag 2.0.

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - norda 005

Norda 005

March 2025, $320

Watch The Preview
Use

Race day, or training, or whatever

Weight

7.5 oz (214g) for a US M9

Stack/Drop

Norda’s 005 is already vying for a number one spot for best shoe of 2025, but there is no competition for how dang good it looks. Of course it is! Norda is known for its simplistic design, top-shelf quality, and jaw dropping aesthetics. Function is of utmost importance in a race day shoe, though. Aspects like weight, foothold, responsiveness, grip, and even durability were all heavily considered for the 005 recipe. 

In a somewhat contrary manner to modern day trail-racing shoes, the Norda 005 doesn’t have a carbon plate, nor does it have a sky-high stack. Honestly, that excites me. 

Norda is debuting some never-before-seen components. One is the Vibram Megagrip Elite that supposedly boasts the same tackiness that we know and love but slashes ounces from the shoe (even with full rubber coverage). Another is a lighter form of the indestructible bio-based Dyneema upper. Also, a pure formula of supercritical TPEE foam is underfoot which flaunts weight savings, pillowy cushion, and high levels of energy return. 

And its weight is absurd, coming in at less than 8 ounces for a US M9.

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - on cloudultra pro

On Cloudultra Pro

June 2025, $260

Watch The Preview
Use

Ultra racing

Weight

Varies

Stack/Drop

38 mm in the heel, 32 mm in the forefoot (6 mm drop)

I’ve seen a few iterations of this shoe worn by On athletes over the last couple of years. There are two reasons why the On Cloudultra Pro is intriguing: 1) it has proven itself on race day and, 2) it shows On’s commitment to trail running.  The company is moving quickly in terms of innovation and the Cloudultra Pro showcases some of that.

If you’ve been in On’s trail offerings, this one will pretty much be nothing like it. The On Cloudultra Pro will showcase dual foams that create the cloud effect to allow for a dynamic yet stable ride. A forked plate is wedged in there for efficiency and energy return. Rounding out the design is a new formulation of Missiongrip rubber and a lightweight technical upper.

I did get a chance to throw this one on for a few strides down the convention hall, and it made me drool just thinking about putting more miles in it next summer.

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - puma deviate nitro trail elite

Puma Deviate Elite Trail

March 2025, $230

Watch The Preview
Use

Race day

Weight

9.3 oz. (265 g) for a US M9

Stack/Drop

36 mm in heel, 30 mm in forefoot (6 mm drop)

Puma has had a few trail models over the years, but nothing that gives a wildcat scream quite like this. 

By naming convention alone, you would think this was the old-fashioned way of creating a trail shoe: take your best road shoe, throw a little extra tread on it and call it a trail shoe. There’s more to the story than that here.

The Deviate label simply means performance in Puma’s world. Sure, this shoe is based off of their successful road successor, but this particular model has a bunch of minor adjustments that will make this shoe trail ready. 

Starting out, the Nitro Elite foam is kept in check by adding a little density. The carbon plate is also engineered to give a little more torsional stability yet still provide some pop. The drop itself is even altered to allow for more control on the trails. Of course, some lugs are added on the Puma Grip outsole.

When all is said and done, I want to believe that this could be a very viable trail running option. We’ve seen similar recipes produce some solid results. So, why fricken not?!

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - rabbit highcountry

Rabbit Highcountry

Summer 2025, $170

Watch The Preview
Use

Daily training

Weight

N/A

Stack/Drop

38 mm in the heel, 33 mm in the forefoot (5 mm drop)

Rabbit, one of the most comfortable running apparel brands out there, will drop its first trail shoe as a partner to the Dreamchaser, a road shoe that debuted in 2024. The Rabbit Highcountry seeks to be a shoe you can throw on for just about any adventure, from daily runs to running 100 miles. 

It has the recipe to be comfortable and go far.  An underfoot combination of Flowstate foam, carbon trax (hidden this time), and a carrier EVA look to provide performance and comfort in all areas, with the goal of helping runners keep going day and night… and maybe another day again. 

All the small details seemed to have been thought over. Even the Blumaka insole, which is often thought of last minute, gives runners 5 mm of unique cushion as well as zonal traction allowing for the relationship of foot and shoe to be closer than ever.

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - salomon slab ultra glide

Salomon S/Lab Ultraglide

February 2025, $250

Watch The Preview
Use

Ultra distances

Weight

N/A

Stack/Drop

41 mm in the heel, 35 mm in the forefoot (6 mm drop)

I can’t lie. I already know how solid of a shoe the Salomon S/Lab Ultraglide is. I’ve worn it and can tell you it’s a big step for the traditionally slim and trim brand. 

There are many points of intrigue in the S/lab Ultraglide, including the wavy midsole/outsole design, tri-piece midsole construction, use of super foams, a dynamic vamp, and a strong stance on why they didn’t go the carbon plate route. This high stack land rover of a racer is slated for those who want the long distance performance with a heavy emphasis on comfort. Many of their ultra-oriented athletes can already vouch for performance with big results on the international trail running stage.

Don’t write this one off.

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - SATISFY THEROCKER

Satisfy TheROCKER

July 1, $280

Use

Anything with dirt

Weight

9.9 oz. (280 g) for a US M9

Stack/Drop

32 in the heel, 27 in the forefoot (5 mm drop)

We’re not allowed to dish all the details or full photos of the Satisfy theROCKER, but we got a pretty good preview of it at The Running Event, and Satisfy has been leaking info via their own Instagram.

They’ve done collabs before, but this shoe is the brand’s first foray into footwear and they brought on a team of experienced designers to get things right. Inspired by founder Brice Partouche’s love of American culture and ’80s RC cars specifically, theROCKER features an outsole that mimics RC car tires with Vibram Megagrip and Litebase construction. The Euforia midsole is an Arkema PEBA and EVA blend that provides just the right amount of cushion and performance and the Rippy 66 upper finishes things off with a high-tenacity monomesh that combines abrasion resistance and breathability.

Details abound, including an aesthetic that was largely inspired by Andy Warhol’s cover design for The Velvet Underground & Nico. Run run run.

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - the north fact vectiv pro

The North Face Flight Vectiv Pro 3

January 2025, $250

Watch The Preview
Use

Ultra distances, race day

Weight

10.3 oz. (294g) for a US M9

Stack/Drop

37 mm in the heel, 31 mm in the forefoot (6 mm drop)

The North Face has been slayin’ as of late. Now, I know that term hasn’t been used in the past two years by anyone under the age of 26, but it’s true. And they’re slaying in all aspects, really. Last year was a big year with some updates and new models. This year will solidify their high-quality trail designations as they apply their best tried-and-true tech to all shoes. 

The Vectiv Pro 3 will be the shoe in the limelight. The North Face Vectiv Pro 2 was our Best in Gear Overall shoe of the year and Race Day shoe of the year in 2024. That’s a tough act to follow! The North Face hopes to make the 3 even faster and more comfortable for those long efforts on smooth to moderate terrain.

Most notable differences will be in the underfoot experience. Four more millimeters of luscious Dream foam were added underfoot. The unique Vectiv system (carbon plate with wings) has been slightly altered and sandwiched within foam layers to hone in on energy return and efficiency. Above that is another slab of Dream Foam with a secondary recycled carbon plate. Its job is to create stability within the package.

It’s an entirely unique setup for a trail shoe (or any shoe for that matter) that will turn heads but– hopefully– not ankles. 

A companion shoe that’s equally exciting is the Enduris 4. It will mirror many of these properties to create a much more subdued and stable option.

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - the north face vectiv sky 2

The North Face Flight Vectiv Sky 2

January 2025, $200

Watch The Preview
Use

Technical race day

Weight

8.4 oz. (238g) for a US M9

Stack/Drop

25 mm in the heel, 19 mm in the forefoot (6 mm drop)

For more technical stuff from The North Face, you’ll want to reach for the Vectiv Sky 2. It holds a lot of the same ingredients as the Pro 3 but they are tweaked for optimal performance on rougher terrain. As a rule, it’s closer to the foot and closer to the ground. 

Again, TNF utilizes the character-filled and durable Dream Foam for the midsole. This iteration also adds two millimeters of foam to the stack height, providing a bit more cushion to widen its range for runners. 

A single full-length Vectiv 3.0 carbon plate with stability wings in the forefoot (as the name Vectiv denotes) is utilized like a Swiss army knife. It boasts practical protection, dynamic stability, and adds some zing to boot. 

An extremely techy dual warp wire-like upper is used to keep things seamless, light, breathable, and map closely to the foot. The underside is somewhat of the opposite story. Aggressive 5 mm lugs of Surface Ctrl rubber seek to eat up the dirt. 

As with the Vectiv Pro series, the Sky series has a close-in-kin model. The North Face Infinite 3 is another exciting update that reflects the new Vectiv Sky 2 closely.

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - topo athletic vista

Topo Athletic Vista

June 2025, $170

Watch The Preview
Use

Daily trail runs to ultra distances

Weight

10.9 oz. (309 g) for a US M9

Stack/Drop

38 mm in the heel, 33 mm in the forefoot (5 mm drop)

Topo Athletic is going maximal with the all-new Vista. It retains a lot of what we’ve come to love about the brand, including an anatomical toe box, plush but fitted upper, gaiter attachments, and rugged Vibram Megagrip down below. 

What will feel new for runners is, of course, the stack height of their softest formulation of Zip Foam yet. But wait! There’s more– Topo Athletic has also added an FKT insole to get more cushion and responsiveness with a bed of beaded TPU directly underfoot. 

It sure seems like every maximal trail shoe has a major competitor on the horizon in the Topo Athletic Vista.

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - vj ultra 3

VJ Ultra 3

June 2025, $190

Use

Daily running

Weight

9.3 oz (265 g) for a US M9

Stack/Drop

37 mm in the heel, 29 mm in the forefoot

In a surprising resurgence, VJ has brought to life old models and shocked us  (in a good way) with new models in 2024. What we are most excited about from this brand next year is an appropriate update that caught my eye and drew me in at The Running Event.

Any shoe that carries an Ultra tag should have, at minimum, the stack and comfort to go far. We couldn’t say that about the previous models of this shoe. We can confidently say that’s the case with the VJ Ultra 3, though. 

Basically forget whatever you know about the Ultra line. Protection is a given with their newly minted softer/energetic Superfoamance midsole, jacked up stack, and rock plate. Classic components like the full butyl rubber outsole (aka literally the best grip on the planet) and Fitlock system will ensure both new and old VJ fans will find something they love in the Ultra 3.

TRAIL 2025 PREVIEW - xbionic

X-Bionic Terraskin X00/C

Available now, $300

Use

Ultra distances, race day

Weight

10.9 oz. (310 g.) for a US M9.5

Stack/Drop

36 mm in the heel, 31 mm in the forefoot (5 mm drop)

This is one of the few companies that showcased an entirely new idea at TRE this year. Xbionic’s shoes are visually catchy and even more intriguing as you get to know more. Here we are showcasing their top-tier shoe, the X-00C because the technology used is embedded in all of their models. 

Xbionic takes a top down approach because their background is in next-to-skin technology. So, their shoes are created to have a strong synergy with their socks. All shoe purchases will come with a sock that works best for the shoe. 

The upper on the X-00C starts as soft woven material and transitions to a Matryx lower half which then extends downward to completely wrap a supercritical EVA midsole. This version also has a wishbone shaped carbon plate that is mostly use for lightweight stability. Surrounding the wrapped midsole is a cage-like outer midsole. This “podular” design was created to have an adaptive experience to the trail. Even though the Vibram Megagrip has much less surface area, supposedly the versatile weave design allows for grip in the optimal points on the foot. 

There’s no doubt that Xbionic has an intriguing design. March 2025 is when we’ll be able to get our feet in them to see if it all does come together in a synergetic manner.

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taylor
Taylor Bodin
Lead Trail Reviewer
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Taylor Bodin is a trail and ultra runner living in Estes Park, Colo., with his wife and daughters. Trail running is pretty much the only hobby he can manage right now and loves it. Every so often, he will pop off a race or FKT attempt because competition is pure and the original motivator for him getting into running anyways. When not running, Taylor is a 1st grade teacher, running coach (track & field, Cross Country, and Trail/Ultra athletes), and volunteers at his church.

More from Taylor
Shoe Size

10.5

Fav. Distance

100K

PRs
  • 27:03

    100M
  • 13:40

    100K
  • 7:42

    50M
  • 4:34

    50K
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